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Required Certificate of Appropriateness

We are planning a respectful renovation in accordance with the HDRC requirements for the Taylorstown historic district. This facility will be a comfortable place for friends to gather.

We have submitted to the county the following statement for Certificate of Appropriateness (CAPP) approval:

1. Background: The existing structure is an economically constructed timber frame bank barn with a stone foundation, constructed in the 19th or early 20th century. The barn is clad in vertical board siding and a standing seam roof. While the stone foundation is in relatively sound condition, the timber frame has been subjected to neglect, displays multiple areas of deterioration, and is not currently fit for serious use as a barn - it needs extensive repair.

2. Proposed changes: The barn is intended to be rehabilitated as a tavern. The foundation will be repaired, and upgraded as necessary to allow the interior to be finished. This will be accomplished without any change to its exterior appearance, save grading on the south and west sides necessary to make the entrances accessible. The exterior shell will be built outward to create a habitable, insulated shell. New windows and doors will be installed - primarily in existing openings. The final appearance of the barn itself will be the same as it is now, except enlarged by the thickness of the insulated walls and roof. The idea is that the inside of the barn will appear almost exactly as it does now. The original detail of the roof overhangs and siding will be replicated, so that there will be no visual change to the exterior of the barn, save the addition of new doors and windows at the large barn door openings and below on the south wall of the cellar. 

We are proposing to add a stone chimney within the west facing wall of the barn. The chimney is to serve large fireplaces in both the cellar and the first floor.

We are proposing to construct an addition on the less prominent east end of the barn. Due to existing foliage, and approaches the west facade is more important than the east. The south facade faces the rear of the Taylorstown store, so it is the most apparent elevation. The wing addition will be smaller in every way than the original barn and deeply recessed from the south elevation - the wing will be subordinate. Tucked into the hillside, the wing will have stone walls on two sides - north and east - terminating at the south-east corner of the wing in a manner similar to the stone foundation of the original barn. Siding and roof will match that of the barn. Windows in the wing will be similar in size to the transom windows added to the east gable of the wing to provide intake and exhaust for the HVAC system. The wing will house a commercial kitchen, so there will be a commercial exhaust system. We are proposing to position the exhaust fan on the ridge of the roof in a manner similar to barn ventilators common throughout the county.

3. Reasons for the Proposed Project: The current owners, Tedd and Dana Durden, desire to rehabilitate the barn for a useful purpose. They are planting a vineyard on the adjoining property and intend to produce wine as well as brew beer. They desire to build a wine tasting room/restaurant at the upper level of the barn and a brewery in the wine cellar. The rehabilitation of the barn will extend its life and usefulness for another generation.

4. Appropriateness of Proposed Project: The rehabilitation of the barn will retain its current appearance except for the addition of new windows at existing openings on the primary facades and beneath the overhang at the cellar level. The windows will be wood with simulated divider lites. Windows installed at existing openings will match those being replaced. We have not seriously explored retaining any of the existing windows; though the possibility remains open for that, the initial judgment is that they are too far gone.

The proposed addition of a chimney to the barn, while not consistent with the current use of the structure would be consistent with its rehabilitated use. The chimney will be visible only above the roof line and kept to a minimum size required for its function. Such internal chimneys are common in houses in the historic district and while not found in functioning barns, would be found in rehabilitated barns. The scale, massing, and detail of the chimney are consistent with the guidelines.

The addition is subordinate to the existing barn - shorter in length, width and height and set back from the front elevation.

New cladding will match the existing - roofing, siding, trim and cornice. Existing stone is to be retained and new stone found to closely match it for the chimney and the addition.

Statement about the general store

Earlier this year, we approached the group that owns the general store and offered to pay off their bank note, take ownership of the store, and re-open it prior to completion of the Taylorstown Tavern. The group turned down this offer and we were unable to come to an agreement.

We also offered to add capacity to the Tavern's water and septic systems to accommodate the needs of the general store. The owners of the general store would have only needed to pay the actual costs of expanding and maintaining the systems to include their needs. The group also turned down this offer.

Introduction

We are residents of Taylorstown who recently bought a 25 acre plot of land in 2 separate parcels located just off Taylorstown Road behind the general store. Our intentions are to renovate the old barn on the property and create the Taylorstown Tavern, where great food and drink will be served in a family atmosphere. We hope this facility will be a gathering point for the Taylorstown community and also attract visitors from out of town who want a taste of this beautiful piece of northwest Loudoun county. We are also planting hundreds of grape vines with the intention of creating a winery, keeping the bulk of the land in agricultural use. 

We think it's very important that this facility be developed in consultation with members of the community and we welcome questions and comments from neighbors. If you'd like to reach us, please send an email to tedd@taylorstown.net